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AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE TERM OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SALEM

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
SECTION 1. The charter of the city of Salem, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended, by striking out section 58 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 58. Mayor as chief executive officer; election; term of office.
There shall be a mayor, elected by and from the qualified voters of the city, who shall be the chief executive officer of the city. The mayor shall hold office for a term of 4 years from the first Monday in January following the mayor’s election and until the mayor’s successor is qualified.
SECTION 2. Section 59A of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the first 2 paragraphs and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-
If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor by death, removal or resignation during the first to thirty-sixth months, inclusive, of the term ending on December 31 for which the mayor was elected, the city clerk shall forthwith order an election to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. Such election may be held at the time of the regular municipal election so long as the vacancy does not occur more than 6 months prior to the regular municipal election. Until the time of the election, the city council shall hold a meeting to elect, by majority vote, 1 of its members as acting mayor until a candidate for mayor is elected and the election results are certified. If the city council fails to elect a member at said meeting or within 30 days thereafter, the president of the city council shall become acting mayor, shall exercise all the rights and powers of mayor and shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the mayor’s duties. The candidate for mayor elected at such election shall take office immediately upon the certification of the results of the election.
If a vacancy occurs during the thirty-seventh month beginning January 1 through the end of the term for which the mayor was elected, a meeting shall be held by the city council to elect, by majority vote, 1 of its members as acting mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the city council fails to elect a member at said meeting or within 30 days thereafter, the president of the city council shall become acting mayor, shall exercise all the rights and powers of mayor and shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the mayor’s duties.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.